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2.04.2013

Resistance may take the form of making a list of what's essential or telling yourself to stick within a certain budget, but try as you might, it happens to all us beginners: we buy way too many different seeds for the garden our first few years.

Our initial overindulgence in new seeds (and seed catalogues) originates from an unholy combination of ambition and ignorance. We're excited, we want to try everything, all at once, right now! And why not, it's only $3 a packet to try! Unfortunately, we don't know how well certain plants will do in our soil, our particular little micro-climate. The seed companies aren't always helpful, either, not stating if a plant will do better in alkaline or acidic soils, or if a tomato will grow well in a container, or even if it will set fruit in hot weather (and exactly how hot is "hot", anyway?). To be fair, printing catalogs is a pricey affair, so they're cramming as much info into as few pages as possible and counting on us to do our homework. On the other hand, they're also trying to make a living for themselves, so the beautiful photos, illustrations and descriptions are set to enthrall our senses, and lure us into feelings of green-thumb optimism & omnipotence. "I just know I can grow Himalayan blue poppies in my alkaline, scorching-hot caliche soil! I must have them!!!"

A few garden battle-scarred years later, you'll eventually find your seed-buying equilibrium. You'll discover which vegetable plants do best in your garden (and which ones you actually prefer eating). You'll know which flowers thrive versus wilting & pouting, and what bugs & diseases your little plot seems to attract most. Hard-won wisdom in hand, you'll have the tools to narrow your seed/plant choices for the next gardening season - that is, if you can resist the temptation to try just one more variety of "x". After all, it's only $3.00...

[pic: cleaning out the old seed packets - what the heck was I thinking back then? Oh, right...]

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What this is all about:

Spouse and I are two tech geeks creating a small family farm in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Our (okay, MY) goal is to grow an organic fruit orchard, and sell to farm markets as my full-time retirement job. Our efforts currently comprise of eight geese, ten ducks, three livestock guardian dogs, and twenty-three laying hens (plus one rooster) of various breeds. Oh, and about 30-odd fruit trees. Hey, I DO have an orchard!

Although I believe the world economic engine and oil production is winding down, it is by getting to know our neighbors and working together on a local level that we'll weather the rough times ahead. Re-localization and locavorism for the win![Spouse thinks I'm nuts, but that's okay. He had his chance to run. Now he's stuck with me.]